Gene Simmons wants to talk comics at Knoxville's Fanboy Expo

The event will go from June 23-25 at the Knoxville Convention Center and feature celebrity guests, cosplay, panels and more.

Wochit

Before he co-founded the popular and successful rock band KISS with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons had a passion for comic books.

That passion has continued throughout his life, and he will get to chat with local comic book fans when he attends Knoxville's Fanboy Expo on June 23 and 24 as a celebrity guest.

Gene Simmons of KISS performs during the band's opening show for the Australian leg of its 40th ...more

Gene Simmons of KISS performs during the band's opening show for the Australian leg of its 40th anniversary world tour at Perth Arena on Oct. 3, 2015, in Perth, Australia.

Paul Kane / Getty Images

Simmons first came in contact with comics after immigrating to New York City from Israel as a kid and recalled the first time they had an effect on him.

"Well, I wasn't born in America, so when I first came to America and couldn't speak English, a kid down the block had a huge comic book collection," Simmons said. "I had never heard of comic books. I didn't know anything about it. And because I couldn't speak English very well, the kid sat me down and brought out an issue of 'World's Finest Comics,' and it had Batman, Superman and Robin on the cover, and I thought to myself, I remember I must have been 8 and a half (or) 9 years old. I remember looking at it and going, 'These people are dressed strangely, and there's capes, and they have masks. What the hell is that?' And then when I opened (the comic book), I couldn't read the words. I couldn't read English at that point, and when I opened the comic book, I saw one of those three guys was flying through the air."

Simmons said seeing these characters who could fly, go back in time and shoot webbing from their fingers caused his imagination to race.

Teaching Spider-Man

From that moment on, comic books weaved into different parts of Simmons' life.

He read them, and Marvel's "Silver Surfer" and "Inhumans" comics became some of his favorites. He also enjoyed the character of Ego the living planet, and the Watchers, who were both most recently seen in Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" film.

Before being a part of KISS, Simmons taught sixth grade in Spanish Harlem in New York City in his early 20s and instructed his class to write a paper about comics.

"One of the first things I did was bring in 'Spider-Man' comics, 'Spider-Man No. 36,' I think it was, and I distributed it to the whole class and told them, 'I want you to go home and write me a paper ... read the whole thing cover to cover, including the advertising, and tell me what it's about. Let's discuss the nature of the social significance of the panel graphic art form,' and it was a real spirited debate," he said. "All of a sudden they cared about it. Of course I got in trouble with the school officials because you're not supposed to teach comic books."

Gene Simmons of KISS performs at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 19, 2016, in Des Moines.

Gene Simmons of KISS performs at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 19, 2016, in Des Moines.

Brian Powers / The Register

Comics and blood

Comics also influenced his role in KISS.

Simmons said his KISS persona is a pastiche of comic book characters Black Bolt, who was part of the Inhumans, and Namor the Sub-Mariner, another Marvel character who used to torture the Fantastic Four.

He and his fellow KISS band mates also had their blood drawn and put in the red ink in the printing press that printed Marvel's KISS comics in 1977.

"I don't know why, but at the time we thought it was a good idea to draw our blood literally and throw it into the ink, the red ink of the printing press that put out KISS comics, which means I guess 10,000 years from now when we become extinct and aliens land here, they'll be able to take our DNA and resurrect the human race. You're welcome," said Simmons, laughing.

KISS has continued to make comics since then. Most recently, KISS comics are being developed and published by Dynamite Entertainment.

Gene Simmons of KISS performs during the 23rd annual Race to Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton ...more

Gene Simmons of KISS performs during the 23rd annual Race to Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 15, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

Simmons' first convention

Simmons first attended a convention in 1968. He went to Luna Con in New York City, which was a convention with a combination of comics, science fiction and books.

He said the experience made him realize he wasn't alone in his love for comic books.

"Oh my head was spinning because when you love something, you think you're the only one, and when you get a room full of a thousand other fans — in those days a thousand fans at something was a big deal — all of sudden you go, 'Wow, I'm not alone. There are other people who love sci-fi and imagination and fantasy and comic books.' ... And I bet the same feeling continues today. You know, there are sports fans ... when you go to Fanboy, you'll have 'Star Trek' fans and 'Star Wars' fans and comic book fans, and you know it feels like a gathering of the tribes, if you see what I mean."

Gene Simmons of KISS performs live as part of the Monster Tour with Motley Crue and Thin Lizzy at ...more

Gene Simmons of KISS performs live as part of the Monster Tour with Motley Crue and Thin Lizzy at Perth Arena on Feb. 28, 2013, in Perth, Australia.

Paul Kane / Getty Images

'I want to meet the fans'

Simmons said he understands what it would be like to meet someone he's a big fan of, and he wants to talk comics with the people he meets at the Fanboy Expo.

"You know, when I was growing up, (in) my time, (there) was the Beatles. I would be tongue tied, especially me, the guy with the tongue, if I had met (Paul) McCartney or (John) Lennon in real life and they treated me like a regular guy (and said,) 'Hey, how are you doing? Nice to see you.' I mean I would collapse," he said. "You know, you have this kind of larger-than-life sense of these people who live on Mount Olympus, and I want to break that. I want to meet the fans. I want to talk (and ask), 'Where are you from? What are you doing?' And talk comics. That's my intent."

Seeing Simmons at Fanboy

Simmons will appear at the Fanboy Expo on Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24, at the Knoxville Convention Center.

To have the best chance of meeting Simmons, those interested should purchase one of the Simmons ticket packages for the event, according to Fanboy Expo's website.

The packages include three-day admission to the event, a spot at Simmons' panel on Saturday, June 24, a chance to see and hold some of Simmons' bass guitars and more. As of Tuesday, some packages are still available.